Straps for carrying buckets and ladders

ABSTRACT

The carry strap for buckets includes a loop fitting around the rim of a bucket with a hand strap and a shoulder strap attached on substantially opposite sides of the loop fitted around the bucket rim. A carry strap for ladders includes, adjustable opposite end loops and a shoulder strap as a carrying case sewn to the strap so that the strap may be folded and retained within the carrying case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to straps or rigs which may be utilized to carry various items such as a bucket or a ladder.

Workman, tradesman and the like often utilize molded plastic buckets in their trade. Typically, such buckets come in five gallon or multiple liter sizes and are molded from plastic with a top rim and a carry handle attached to the sides of the top rim. Most often a lid is fitted onto the top rim of the bucket. Often such buckets are also utilized to carry tools as well as other materials useful at a work site such as water, concrete, gravel, sand and the like. Carrying such items at a work site is often a challenge. The handle which is typically provided for the bucket may become damaged and deformed or may not support the loaded or filled bucket.

Additionally, tradesmen often need to carry elongate items such as ladders, boards, pipe and the like at a work site. This job can be augmented or facilitated and made easier if appropriate rigs are available to facilitate the carrying of an elongate item such as a ladder.

Thus, the incentive to develop the presently described inventions was a result of such recognized needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a carrier strap for buckets and an alternative carrier strap which may be used for carrying an elongate item such as a ladder.

The bucket carrier is comprised of a loop strap, a hand strap and a shoulder strap. The loop strap is fitted around the rim of a bucket. The manual handle strap is attached to the strap that fits around the rim of the bucket. The auxiliary or shoulder strap is also attached to the loop straps. The shoulder strap has a generally longer length and is adjustable in length relative to the hand held strap. Thus, a bucket may be moved and transported by placing the shoulder strap on the shoulder of a workman as the workman also supports the bucket using the hand strap. In this manner, two straps are employed to carry and balance the bucket, each one of the two straps being attached to the loop strap that is, in turn, attached around the rim of the bucket.

A ladder carrying strap is comprised on an elongate, flexible strap having adjustable loops and release buckles at its opposite ends with an intermediate slidable shoulder strap and an attached carrying case or storage case. Thus, the flexible strap may be folded upon itself and the storage case folded over and fastened about the carry strap. The buckle at each end of the flexible strap enables opening of the loop associated with each end of the strap for placement around the side rails or rungs of a ladder, for example, or around a length of lumber, pipe or the like.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide improved strap carriers for use at a work site.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a strap assembly for transport of a bucket or pail wherein the strap assembly includes a shoulder strap and a hand hold strap in combination with a loop strap that fits around the rim of a bucket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strap useful for carrying ladders which may be attached to the side rail of a ladder and adjusted to an appropriate length and further wherein the strap may be folded upon itself and placed in a storage case attached to the strap.

Another object of the invention is to provide strap designs which are rugged, economical, easy to use and adjustable.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in a detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view a carrier strap construction for use in combination with a bucket wherein the carrier strap construction is affixed about the rim of a bucket;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the carry strap of FIG. 1 depicting the manner in which the carry strap is affixed to a bucket.;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the carry strap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the carry strap depicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a carry strap for ladders and elongated items depicted in the manner for holding and transporting a ladder;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view depicting one of a buckle and loop associated with the carry strap of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view the storage case associated with the carry strap of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the carry strap of FIG. 7 wherein the storage case for the carry strap is closed for storage of the carry strap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the figures, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a carry strap construction for buckets.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate a carry strap useful for carrying elongate items such as ladders, lumber, pipes, posts and the like.

Referring first, therefore, to FIGS. 1-4 the strap assembly for transport and carrying of a bucket or the like includes a first loop strap 10 joined or connected to a hand strap 12 and a shoulder strap 14. The first loop strap 10 is fabricated from a flexible strap material such as woven nylon, or other appropriately flexible and strong material. The first loop strap 10 includes a first end 16 with a ring 18 attached thereto. The first loop strap 10 further includes a second end 20 which includes an end flap 22 having a fastener material such as hook and loop fastener material 24 on the inside cooperative with fastener material such as hook and loop fastener material 26 on the outside of the first loop strap 10. Thus, the end 22 may be fitted through the ring 18 and the fastening materials 24 and 26 engaged to tightly grip one another to hold the first loop strap 10 about the rim 30 of the bucket wherein the rim 30 includes an upper flange 32 and a lower flange 34 defining a slot for the loop strap 10. Generally, midway between the opposite ends 16 and 22 of the loop strap 10 are attachment or connection points 36 and 38 for the first hand strap 12 and the first shoulder strap 14. First hand strap 12 also includes a hand grip section 40 generally intermediate the opposite ends of the strap 12. Strap 12 is preferably sewn to the connection points 36 and 38 generally so as to be positioned on opposite sides of the bucket 44.

Rings, such as rings 46 and 48 are provided at the attachment points 38 and 36 for attachment to removable buckles or clasps 50 and 52 associated with the adjustable length shoulder strap 14. The adjustable length shoulder strap 14 has a slidable shoulder pad 56 generally intermediate the opposite ends thereof. Thus, the shoulder strap 14 may be attached or removed from the loop strap 10.

In use, the strap assembly of FIGS. 1-4 is first attached about the rim 30 of bucket 44. The shoulder strap 14 with the shoulder pad 56 may then be adjusted to the appropriate length and carried on the shoulder of a workman or tradesman. The workman or tradesman will simultaneously grasp the hand grip 40 to facilitate balance, movement and transport of the bucket 44. The adjustable strap 14 typically has a length greater than that of the first hand strap 12 inasmuch as the shoulder pad 56 is elevated above and maintained above the hand hold 40 during useful operation of the strap assembly of FIGS. 1-4.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate a further strap assembly useful for carrying ladders and the like. The flexible and elongate strap 60 includes a slidable shoulder pad 62 generally intermediate the opposite ends of the shoulder strap 60. The opposite ends of the shoulder strap 60 include a buckle arrangement such as the buckle 66 and cooperative buckle member 68 attached to flexible loop 70 which is sewn to the opposite end 72 of the loop 70. The end 72 fits through a ring 74 attached to the adjustable length strap 60.

The strap of FIG. 5 includes a first loop end 70 and a second loop end 71 having substantially the same configuration and construction. Adjacent the second loop end 71 is a storage case 80 comprised of an elongate flexible fabric material such as depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8. The fabric material may be canvas, plastic or other foldable material. The case 80 is attached by stitching, for example, stitching 82 to the strap 60. The strap 60 may then be folded over itself and retained by wings 84 and 86 of case 80 which are folded over the folded strap 60 such as shown in FIG. 8. Fastener material, such as hook and loop fastener material 90 associated with the wings 86 and 84, maintains the wings in the closed folded position within the carrying case 80.

The straps are adjustable in length to accommodate the needs of a workman or a tradesman. Additionally, the straps are flexible and the buckles is included to permit further adjustment. Thus, the various strap configurations as set forth in the embodiments do not comprise limiting features of the invention. Various other types of strap material, buckles, rings and the like may be utilized to facilitate the assembly of the component parts described. The invention is therefore to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof. 

1. A strap assembly for transport of a bucket or pail comprising in combination: a first loop strap having a first end, a second opposite end, and an adjustable connection mechanism for connecting the first end to the second end; a first hand strap including a first end attached to the first loop strap and further including a second end affixed to the first loop strap, said first hand strap including a hand hold intermediate the first and second attached ends of the first hand strap located generally midway along the length of the hand strap between the first and second attached ends, said first and second attached ends spaced from one another and fitting generally on opposite sides of a bucket rim to which the first loop strap is attached; and a first shoulder strap having a first shoulder strap end attached to the first loop strap substantially at the first attached end of the first hand strap and a second shoulder strap end attached to the first loop strap at the second attached end of the first hand strap, said first shoulder strap being adjustable in length to enable a longer length than the first hand strap.
 2. The strap assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second shoulder strap ends are detachable from the first loop strap.
 3. The strap assembly of claim 1 including a shoulder pad on the first shoulder strap intermediate the first and second shoulder strap ends.
 4. The strap assembly of claim 1 wherein the adjustable connection mechanism of said first loop strap comprises a ring at the first end thereof and a strap end at the opposite end which is extendable through the ring, to be cinched and folded over on itself.
 5. A carry strap assembly for carrying an elongate item such as a ladder comprising in combination: a single elongate flexible strap having a first end forming a loop with an adjustable connection mechanism and a second end forming a loop with an adjustable connection mechanism; a strap storage case attached to the strap intermediate the first and second ends of the strap said storage case including first and second lateral foldable side wings positioned on and extending laterally from the strap, said wings foldable over the strap, at least, one of said first and second wings foldable over the other; and a fastener on the first and second wings for holding the wings connected together over the strap.
 6. The strap assembly of claim 5 wherein the flexible strap includes a shoulder pad slidably mounted on the flexible strap intermediate the storage case and the first end of said flexible strap. 